Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part I

Mr. Adams to Mr. Seward.

No. 640.]

Legation of the United States, London, April 7, 1864.

Sir. * * * * * * * *

In regard to the notice sent to me in your No. 883, of the 22d March, of the spurious character of the paper called Mr. Mallory’s report, I lost no time in giving the information to Lord Russell. I had had some conversation with him on the subject on Saturday last, and was aware that the crown lawyers were anxious to be assured upon the subject. I therefore addressed a note to his lordship, which appears to have come just in time to clear him from an embarrassment prepared for him in the House of Lords by Lord Clanricarde. I send a copy of my note, as well as a report of the debate in the London Times.

* * * * * * * * *

I know nothing directly from Lord Russell of the correctness of the statement made by Lord Olanricarde respecting the despatch of a steamer to open a communication with the rebel authorities at Richmond. I find in the newspaper called the Index an affirmation that the steamer Petrel had been actually sent with Mr. Crawford, the consul at Havana, and that admission had been refused to him by the naval blockading authority without specific instructions from Washington. If this be true, you probably know all about it. The selection of so well-known a sympathizer as Mr. Crawford cannot be regarded as auspicious of any very stern remonstrances against the outrageous proceedings of the rebels. If it be true that he has carried the spurious report of Mr. Mallory as his main ground of objection, as Lord Russell appears to intimate, the turn which will be given to the whole proceeding may be readily foreseen.

I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

Hon. Willtam H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.,

[Enclosure.]

Mr. Adams to Earl Russell.

Legation of the United States, London, April 4, 1864.

My Lord: In connexion with the subject of the report of Mr. Mallory, the insurgent secretary of the navy, about which I had some conversation with your lordship on Saturday, I have the honor to apprise you that I have just received a despatch from Mr. Seward, informing me that after most diligent inquiries it has been ascertained that the supposed report is admitted by the editor of the New York Sun to have been prepared for the columns of that newspaper, in which it first appeared.

The reason assigned for this extraordinary proceeding is the desire of creating the impression that he had means of communicating with the insurgent capital superior to those of his professional brethren. The fact is, that the same newspaper already had earned that reputation, so that there seems to have been scarcely an adequate cause for resorting to so discreditable a step. I therefore still incline to believe in the correctness of the conjecture made by me to your lordship, that the information contained in the paper had been surreptitiously obtained from sources which the editor, being now forced to act, is unwilling to expose. This, however, can make no difference in regard to the manner in which the paper must now be viewed. I hasten to give this information to your lordship, in order that no further reliance may be placed upon it.

I pray your lordship to accept the assurances of the highest consideration with which I have the honor to be, my lord, your most obedient servant,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS.

The Right Hon. Earl Russell, &c., &c., &c.